Jones was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. He attended Archbishop Moeller High School in Cincinnati. He was a two-time All-Greater Catholic League and PrepStar's All-Midwest Team selection for coach Bob Crable. As a junior in 2005, he had 13 tackles for losses, including three sacks. As a senior in 2006 he had 71 tackles, 23.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks.

Jones was rated as a three-star recruit by Rivals.com and was ranked as the 34th best outside linebacker in his class.[1]Scout.com had him ranked as the 24th best strong side linebacker.[2]

As a sophomore in 2008, Jones was named first-team All-Big Ten by the head coaches and second-team pick by the media. He was the first Spartan linebacker to earn All-Big ten first team since Josh Thornhill in 2001. Jones was also named to Collegefootballnews.com's all sophomore team. He was awarded Michigan State's Outstanding Underclass Back award. He started all 13 games, again leading the team in tackles with 127 and had two sacks.

As a junior in 2009, Jones recorded 154 tackles and nine sacks and was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American.[3][4] The 154 tackles led the team for the third straight year and was most in the Big Ten. Jones was also the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, becoming the first Spartan to earn the honor. He earned first team All-Big Ten for the second consecutive year.

As a senior in 2010 Jones had 98 tackles, a sack and two interceptions. He was named a first-team All-Big Ten selection for the third consecutive year, and was recognized as a unanimous first-team All-American.[4]

The New York Giants selected Jones in the sixth round (185th overall pick) of the 2011 NFL Draft. Jones became the Giants' starting middle linebacker after a season-ending injury to Jonathan Goff. He was waived on August 31, 2012.

Jones signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars on November 12, 2012. Battling through an ankle injury all season, he was placed on season-ending injured reserve with a broken leg on December 24.[5] He was released on May 6, 2013.[5][6]

On May 15, 2013, Jones signed with the Tennessee Titans.[7] After missing several preseason games with an ankle injury, he was waived/injured by the Titans on August 26, 2013.[5][8][9] On August 27, 2013, he cleared waivers and was placed on the Titans' reserve/injured list. On August 31, 2013, he was waived from reserve/injured with an injury settlement.

Jones proposed to his girlfriend, Mandy Piechowski, a former Michigan State women's basketball player, on the field after the Giants won Super Bowl XLVI, and they married in July 2013.[5][12][13] Their daughter Ava was born in 2014.[5] Jones graduated from Michigan State University in May 2015.[14]